Detroit police retire car code to honor slain officer Brian Huff

May 3, 2013

Written by

Associated Press

The scout car code assigned to an officer who was killed in the line of duty three years ago was retired during a solemn pre-dawn ceremony Friday.

Officer Brian Huff's car number, 5-14, will not be used again, and crews assigned to that vehicle will revert to 5-13.

The emotional early morning memorial service was attended by fellow officers and Huff's family, including his teenage son, Blair.

“I want to be a police officer,” a teary Blair Huff told reporters. “I want to make this world a better place.”

Brian Huff's wife, Melissa, said their son “is the young man his father wanted him to be.”

Officers listened on their police radios and offered prayers, and a moment of silence was observed during today's gathering near the home where Huff was slain.

“No one else will use 5-14 again,” said Huff's commander, Steve Dolunt. “It's a great idea. I don't know whose idea it was, but it's a great idea.”

Huff, his partner and several other officers responded to a May 3, 2010, 911 call about lights shining in a vacant house. As the other officers took up positions outside the house, Huff announced "police" and kicked in the front door.

Huff's gun remained in its holster when he was gunned down by Jason Gibson, who ran from the rear of the house, firing at the other officers.

Four other officers were shot or injured, but they recovered.

In 2011, Gibson was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for killing Huff, a 12-year police veteran.

Inspector Eric Jones, commanding officer of the department’s Eastern District, said officers came to him in recent months saying they wanted to retire the code, which he said will keep Huff’s memory alive.

As future generations of officers wonder why the code isn’t being used, Jones said, “someone will say, ‘We can’t out of respect for Brian Huff.’”